Sebelius: 7.5 million now signed up for health coverage

WASHINGTON — Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says 7.5 million Americans have now signed up for health coverage under President Barack Obama’s health care law.

That’s a 400,000 increase from the 7.1 million that Obama announced last week at the end of the law’s open enrollment period. The figure exceeded expectations, a surprise election-year success for the law after a disastrous roll-out.

Sebelius disclosed the new figure during a hearing Thursday before the Senate Finance Committee.

ERICA WERNER, Associated Press